Muskego Lakes Family Newsletter

Dear Muskego Lakes Families,

As we kick off another school year here at Muskego Lakes, we know that these first few weeks can be both exciting and overwhelming. We've spent a lot of time helping students open their Master locks, find their classes, get to know their teachers, and learn the behavior expectations here at school. But we've also spent a lot of time investing in relationship building, fostering community, and checking in with students.

Our hope is that our students feel a sense of belonging here at school. Everyone on staff at Muskego Lakes- from teachers to custodians to lunch supervisors- we all wake up each day eager to get to know your children. We love learning about their pets, their hobbies, their siblings, the music they listen to, their lives outside of school- all of it. And our goal is that each and every student feels connected to other students and staff here at Muskego Lakes.

So while your child's learning is our priority here at Muskego Lakes, we invest a great deal of our time, energy, and heart into making sure our students feel safe and connected here at school.

And while our mission is to ensure every student is learning, growing, and succeeding in MNS, we also understand that with 700+ students, we may not truly understand your child's experience here at school. We know that many students hold it together all day long but may get home after school and fall apart. If that sounds familiar, please know that we are here for your child. And we are here for you. As principals, our hope is that you'd trust us by reaching out so we can work together to best support your child going forward. We are here to listen and to support your child (and you) in any way we can.

So if your child had a rough first few weeks of the school year, or if you would just like us to know anything about his or her experience so far this year, please reach out. We will do just about anything we can to make sure your child feels loved and cared for here at school. And as you know, it takes a village.

In partnership,

Rachel and Nancy

Muskego Lakes Principals

To reach us, please call, text, or email:

(262) 971-1860 ext 1812 or (608) 628-8546 (cell)

rachel.rydzewski@muskegonorway.org

• 9/15: School Spirit Wear Orders Due

• 9/16-9/18: Math iReady Testing

• 9/20: Pastries with Parents at 7am in School Cafeteria

• 10/11: School Photo Day

• 10/14: No School

• 10/17: Fall Conferences 4-8pm

• 10/20: Pumpkin Spice Fair 9am-2pm

• 10/23: Fall Conferences 4-8pm

• 10/29: Photo Make-Up Day
  

Our students worked really hard in literacy this past week taking the Literacy iReady assessment. Next week, students will be taking the Math iReady test starting Monday. As we shared last week the iReady assessment is designed to provide a clear picture of students' current knowledge and areas they can focus on for improvement.

Please have a conversation with your child about giving their best effort and not becoming stressed by any incorrect answers. We ask that you please help students to ensure that their Chromebook is fully charged and that they have a pair of wired headphones ready. A good night's sleep and a nutritious breakfast on test days will also contribute to their success.

Thank you for your support in helping our students excel during this assessment period. If you have any questions or need further information, feel free to reach out.

At Muskego Lakes, we pride ourselves on having a variety of co-curricular activities for our students to participate in! On Friday, September 20th, your child will have an opportunity at lunch to explore and learn more about the following co-curricular options available to them:

• Boys Basketball (7-8th grade)

• Volleyball (7-8th grade)
• Track (7-8th grade)
• Cross Country (5-8th grade)
• Wrestling (5-8th grade)
• Cheerleading (5-8th grade)
• School Musical (5-8th grade)
• Student Council (6-8th grade)
• Ski & Snowboard Club (5-8th grade)
• NJHS (National Junior Honor Society) (8th Grade)
• Bike Club(5-8th grade)
• Phab Lab Club (6-8th grade)
• Robotics Club (5-8th grade)
• Chamber Choir (6-8th grade)
• Doo Wop Dudes (Choir) (6-8th grade)
• Soul Sisters (Choir) (6-8th grade)
• Science Club (5-8th grade)
• Art Club (5-8th grade)
• Generations Club (5-8th grade)
• Creative Writing Club (5-8th grade)
• Jazz Band (7-8th grade)
• Dungeons and Dragons Club (5-8th grade)
• Wellness Club (5th grade)
• Mindfulness Club (5-8th grade)
• Best Buddies (5-8th grade)
• SPLASH/Homework Club (5-8th grade)
• Yearbook Club (5-8th grade)
• Jewelry Club (5-8th grade)

Student Photo Day is ahead on October 11th. All students are required to get their photo taken for the yearbook and for their school ID card. Students will be briefly called out of class in order to get their photo taken.

If you'd like to purchase a prints, you may do so on their website. You can find our school by simply typing in our school name.

Please know that any absent students will be photographed on Oct 29.

In today’s world, it is crucial for every school system to maintain a heightened awareness of school safety. Rest assured, this will always be a top priority within our school system, and we are committed to ensuring the safety of our students and staff.

We wanted to let you know that a middle school student in a neighboring community, Mukwonago, received a threatening image via a social media app on Thursday, September 12th. With support from their police force, they continue investigating the matter. They believe their schools are safe, and they are in session today.

Rest assured, if any form of a school threat was received in our district, it would be treated with the utmost seriousness and investigated thoroughly. We are proactive in our approach, and our robust partnership with our local law enforcement agencies ensures that every situation is handled with the necessary diligence.

Events like this create an opportunity for an impactful conversation with your children. Please talk with them about how they would respond if they received information of a threatening nature. Remind them of the importance of reporting information immediately to a trusted adult or through our Speak Up Speak Out app. Additionally, remind them that spreading rumors about a threat is also not okay and could result in significant disciplinary and legal actions. Finally, if you hear something as a parent/guardian, please immediately contact our police department. We all share the responsibility to keep our schools safe, and we appreciate your support.

Please feel free to reach out with any questions, and know that the Speak Up Speak Out link can be found in every Muskego Lakes Family Newsletter.

Did you know that families can put their student's absence in Infinite Campus rather than calling school?

Directions to Report Absences Using Infinite Campus

• Report absences by logging into Infinite Campus, either through the Campus Parent App or from a computer.
• Once logged in, click More, then Absence Requests.
• Select your student(s).
• Select the reason from the drop down.
• Select the absence type.
• Select the date(s).
• Add Comments.
• Click Submit

We ask that you please report student absences from school daily before 9:00 am. In addition, we thank you for trying your best to make appointments outside of the school day whenever possible.

Failure to notify the school of a student’s absence within 24 hours shall be considered as unexcused and handled accordingly. We want to partner with you to support your child's attendance, so don't hesitate to get in touch with us if you have concerns or wish to partner to create a plan to support your student's attendance.

Students are allowed one day for each consecutive day of absence to complete and submit pre-assigned work. Students do not receive an extra day to complete work due to an approved field trip or pre-arranged absence. It is the student’s responsibility to confirm arrangements with all teachers prior to a field trip or pre-arranged absence. Students can stop into our main office to pick up the pre-arranged absence form to connect with their teachers.

If you're new to Muskego Lakes this year or if you wish to purchase new spirit wear for the upcoming school year, check out the link HERE. The online store is open until September 15th (this weekend), and items should arrive 2-3 weeks after the online store closes.

Join us Friday, September 20th for Pastries with Parents! This is a great opportunity to meet new families and to meet the PTO Board. From 7am to 8am donuts, coffee and milk will be availiable in the cafeteria. Everything will be available for just $1 each with 100% of the proceeds going back to the kids. In order to make sure we have enough items, we ask that you sign up HERE with how many people will be in your party.

When you arrive, please park in the parking lot to the right and make sure you do not park in any of the bus spots. In addition, we ask that you please wait to leave until after the bus and drop-off traffic clears out (about 8:10) to avoid back-ups and congestion. Thank you for helping us keep things running smoothly.

In an effort to ensure students can move through the lunch lines efficently, we ask that you remind your student to ensure that they bring their school ID card with them to lunch daily or ensure that you have gotten your finger scanned.

For you ease, we have linked the September menu below with other helpful resources. You can always find the link to updated lunch menus, at the end of this newsletter.

• September Lunch Menu
• Guide to Making a Complete Meal
• Top Ten Reasons For School Meals

2024-25 Lunch Prices:

• Elementary School $2.55
• MS Diner meal $2.95
• MS Pizza meal $3.50
• MS Grab n Go $3.50
• MS Creation meal $3.90
• Adult $4.65
• Milk Carton $0.50
  
  

Questions related to the food service program can be directed to Benny D’Epiro, Food Service Director at 262-971-1790 x4522.

We want to ensure that our lunch staff is able to quickly and efficiently add money to lunch accounts that are dropped off in the lunchroom. You can add money online or by dropping off in the box in the cafeteria. If you are sending money, please ensure that when you send money with your child to place money or check in an envelope and label the envelope with the following:

• Student Name
• Student Account Number
• Grade

At Muskego Lakes, we believe in setting our Muskies up for success by clearly communicating the consistent expectations we have for students. Consistent teacher expectations play a pivotal role in fostering a learning environment for middle school students that promotes acceptance, empowerment, and achievement. When teachers maintain a steady set of expectations and responses for when they are not met, students are better equipped to understand what is required of them academically and behaviorally. This predictability helps create a sense of structure and security, enabling students to focus more on their learning and personal growth, rather than constantly adapting to varying demands from classroom to classroom. Consistency also promotes fairness and strengthens relationships, as students perceive that everyone is held to the same standards.

So, how does consistency show up in our spaces at MLMS?

• We begin by teaching students the behavior expectations for all settings in our building- library, hallway, locker, bathroom, playground, and cafeteria, to name a few. In classrooms, teachers spend time explaining and practicing their routines and procedures for everyday class operations.

• We acknowledge students for demonstrating positive behaviors. That can look many different ways- quarterly character awards based, grade level behavior goals and celebrations, principal shoutouts, and more.

• We respond in a predictable manner when behavior expectations are not met. Because a classroom isn’t the same without everyone’s voice in it, our goal is to give students the opportunity to adjust their behavior in such a way that they are able to remain in class. For minor behaviors (those that do not result in an immediate office referral), we have a step-by-step process for redirecting and refocusing a student so that teaching and learning for all may continue. First, we remind them of the positive behavior we need them to demonstrate. Then, if the behavior continues, we check in with the student to determine what they need in order to meet that unmet expectation. If still not working, the student will take an 8-minute break in the library to self-regulate and reflect, and then return to class. In addition, families will receive a phone call home to inform them of the situation.

As you can see, we do our best to work alongside a student to determine a solution to the unsolved problem that is getting in the way of their learning. We want them to know and utilize all the supports they have here at Muskego Lakes. They are worth it, and we want them to know it.

Shown below are the upcoming co-curricular events at Muskego Lakes.

If a change occurs from the date of this newsletter, we post on Infinite Campus in the announcement section. We commit to letting students/families know about changes and updating Infinite Campus announcements as soon as possible once we've been notified of a change.

For more detailed information about MLMS events, click here.

We are proud to continue to partner with Clinical Psychology Associates (CPA) to offer on-site counseling services for students enrolled in Lakeview Elementary, Mill Valley Elementary, Bay Lane Elementary, Lake Denoon Middle, Muskego Lakes Middle, and Muskego High School. For information about CPA’s services and therapists or to get started with an appointment, please visit our website.

If you are interested in being a vendor click HERE.

The MLMS PTO is in need of volunteers to help run the event. Even an hour or two is a huge help to make this event successful. If you can sign up HERE.

The MLMS PTO is looking to continue the traditon to have snacks for staff each Wednesday. We need your help though by signing up to donate snacks each week. This greatly helps them make it through the week. You can donate snacks or a group of families can donate. We have roughly 100 staff members. Snacks can be anything you'd like.

Please sign up HERE for a date below if you can. Drop off will be in the front office by 8am on the Wednesday you sign up.

Please consider joining the Muskego Lakes PTO. We meet monthly in the MLMS library at 6:30pm. We always welcome new faces and would love to hear your ideas on how we can make this an amazing school year ahead!!

Our last meeting Dates for the 24-25 School Year are:

• October 7
• November 4
• January 6
• February 3
• March 3
• April 7
• April 28

Please make note of days off and important events on the 24-25 calendar. It is ideal to make dentist and doctor appointments on days we do not have school whenever possible.

Website: https://www.muskegonorway.org/schools/muskegolakes/
Location: W124 S8009 North Cape Rd.
Phone: 262-971-1860
Twitter: @MLMSmuskies

To view current support staff job vacancies, click HERE